Private Fred Young wrote a letter on February 15, 1916 relating some of his thoughts and experiences as a member of the 18th Battalion, C.E.F. This may well have been the later Sergeant Fred Young who was to become the “poet laureate” for the 18th Battalion after the war. His poetry and efforts as a…

On May 3, 1916, the Paisely Advocate included a letter[i] written by then Sergeant Andrew Enos Babcock, a native son of Paisely, about his experiences with the 18th Battalion. Sergeant Babcock was an original member of the 18th Battalion with the assigned regiment number of 53989 when he enlisted on October 27, 1914 in Walkerton,…

CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY of 18th Canadian Battalion 2nd Canadian Division From 1st April to 30th April 1916 Volume 8 With appendices 1 -3 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information CLYTTE April 1 10:00 AM Battalion in Divisional Reserve at LA CLYTTE. B coy and 2 platoons of D coy moved to hold trenches…

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 1 Battn in SP trenches. Operation orders for cooperation in attacks on INTERNATIONAL trench on our left (attached). Bombardment commenced 5 pm until 5.30 pm. This was kept up during the night of March ½ becoming very intense about 2.30 A.M. 20th Can Bn was on our…

Confidential War Diary of 18th Canadian Battalion 2nd Canadian Division from 1st January to 31st January 1916: Volume 5 With appendices 1-2 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information LA CLYTTE Jan. 1 Battalion in LA CLYTTE in Divisional Reserve – “B” and D Companies were paid other Companies conducted training in specialists. Officers…